Record-breaking Arsenal virtually secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with an impressive 7-1 win over PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the Philips Stadion.
Jurien Timber opened the scoring in the 18th minute, before youngster Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino extended Arsenal's lead half an hour later.
Noah Lang gave PSV hope with a successful penalty but Martin Odegaard scored just 60 seconds after the break and Leandro Trossard added a fifth a minute later.
Odegaard doubled his lead with 17 minutes remaining and Riccardo Calafiori completed a final-minute thrashing that was Arsenal's biggest away Champions League defeat.
The Gunners, without a recognised striker, have been struggling and failing to score in the Premier League as their title chances have faded.
However, Mikel Arteta's men responded to Timber's call to turn things around with a strong performance on the European stage (albeit against relatively weak opponents PSV) that puts them on the brink of a quarter-final with Real or Atletico Madrid.
After Odegaard had a penalty missed and Declan Rice had a goal ruled out for offside in the opening twelve minutes, it was PSV who came closest to opening the scoring when David Raya barely made contact with Ivan Perisic's pass and Ismael Saibari hit the post.
Less than two minutes later, the visitors had their breakthrough. Miles Lewis-Skelly did well in midfield to find Trossard, who played in Rice. A fine turn and cross from the Englishman allowed former Ajax defender Timber to head Arsenal ahead at the far post.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
